Unicorn Horn or Rhino Horn?

By Paisley HibouQuailBellMagazine.com

Folklore's fun, except when it kills. In the case of rhinos, folklore practically pulls the trigger. One of the inspirations for the all-purpose healing unicorn horn, rhino horn is a highly sought commodity even in the modern era. This is one positively medieval practice that Quail Bell(e)s are not thrilled to embrace.

A poster designed by SavingRhinos.org states 10 essential facts about the burly beasts—#4 being that, “Scientific testing has confirmed that rhino horn is NOT medicine.” It goes on to explain that, “Unfortunate beliefs throughout China and parts of Southeast Asia attribute medicinal properties to the rhino's horn. Illegal rhino horn is sold in 'cuts' or manufactured into 'medicine' and marketed as a 'remedy' for pain, fever, acne, laryngitis and even as a cancer treatment.” In reality, rhino horn's made of keratin, the same substance that makes up our fingernails, and has no affect on the human body.

The November '11 issue of Vice Magazine includes a teeny story called “Rhinocide” by Harry Cheadle. Harry describes the poaching procedure pretty bluntly: “Poachers shoot the innocent animal with a huge gun, saw off its horn, sell it for an estimated $1,000 an ounce on the black market, and leave its two-ton corpse to rot in the hot sun.”

An article that appeared in The Guardian on November 4th reported that South Africa's rhino poaching has reached a record high. So far, 341 rhinos have been killed this year alone. As folklore enthusiasts, The QB Crew hopes that our fledglings will take this opportunity to think about the potentially harmful effects of superstitions. For the rhino, what at first sounds like an innocent child's fairy tale, means death.